Isanti Soil & Water Conservation District
MPCA's Citizen Water Monitoring Program
Join more than 1,400 Minnesotans who track the health of their favorite lake or stream — become a citizen water monitor today! Citizens in every county can join the water quality movement by becoming water monitor through the MPCA’s Citizen Monitoring Programs. All equipment & training are free!
Seed Drill Rental
The Isanti SWCD rents a seed drill suitable for planting native grasses and wildflowers. Cost is $12/acre; $150 minimum within Isanti County; $250 minimum outside of Isanti County. Security deposit $161.81 at time of rental. Call Matthew Remer at 763-689-3271 to schedule.
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Serving the residents and conserving our natural resources
Our Office is Now Open
Our office is now open to the public! We are here to help you Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Staff may not be in the office at all times due to the outdoor nature of our work. Consider calling our office before your visit at 763-689-3271. See the Contact Us page for other ways to contact staff members.
Workshops
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Nature Photo Contest
Enter your photos into Isanti SWCD's photo contest! Any photos highlighting the nature of Isanti County will be accepted. Images can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. through July 31st and must include a short description of where the image was taken. Two winners will win free tickets to the Cambridge GTI Theater. One first-place winner will receive a gift card to Green Barn Garden Center. Read More -
Starry Trek
Join us August 20th to learn how to identify aquatic invasive species and help look for new infestations! Participants will be taught to identify aquatic invasive species and then travel to different near-by lakes to find them out in the wild! The Isanti SWCD is hosting a local site for the event which is organized annually by the U of M. Go online to register. Read More -
Shoreline Restoration Workshop
Come join the Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District for a day on the lake! Get your hands dirty while learning techniques to help protect your shoreline with a simple shoreline restoration. It will be August 20th 9am-12pm on Blue Lake. Read More
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Blue Lake Prepares for an Alum Treatment!
Blue Lake Alum Treatment
Thank you to the Isanti County Sportmen's Club for their $10,000 Grant Match!
Ecosystem Services Market Consortium
We have made a short storyboard that will take you through the progress made on Green Lake.
The Beauty of Oxford Township Lakes
All of the footage was shot on the Oxford Township lakes!
Rum River Easement Funding Available
If you are interested and own land along the Rum River please call us!
Congratulations!
Wyanett Township Recognized for Outstanding Work in Conservation
Congratulations to the Wyanett Town Board for receiving the 2021 Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District’s Outstanding Conservationist Award! Each year the Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District (or SWCD), in partnership with our state association, the MN Association of SWCDs, recognizes an individual or organization for their outstanding accomplishments in implementing conservation practices and improving Minnesota’s natural resources. This year the Isanti SWCD board of supervisors voted unanimously to award the Wyanett Town Board as our Outstanding Conservationists. .
"Conservation is for All of Us"
Kevin Schlipp and his wife have been conservation minded for years. Therefore, when they started learning about cover crops in farmer magazines and from long time practicer Dave Medvecky (part of the Isanti SWCD board), they decided to try them. Kevin has been using cover crops for two years now, and joined the Isanti SWCD Cover Crop Program last year.
Kevin uses a cover crop mix of buckwheat, crimson clover, radish, winter peas, and some soybeans. He chose his mix using the advice of Dave and the NRCS and SWCD staff. When the buckwheat is in bloom the farm is a rolling field of flowers that attracts many bees. However, Kevin’s favorite benefit of the cover crops are not the bumbling bees on his property. Instead, he has noticed “very few weeds breaking out and coming through once the cover crop has been established.” This saves him time, money and chemicals. The weed protection of cover crops encourages Kevin to keep using them, as he says, “If I can get by with using less chemicals that is a motivating factor for me.” When Kevin was asked why cover crops and conservation was important to him, he responded immediately: “Well, conservation is for all of us.” Cover crops improve soil health and water quality which benefits both the farmer and the environment.Isanti SWCD Calendar
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Tuesday, 16 August 2022
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Isanti SWCD Newsletter
For the latest happening at the Isanti SCWD, please view or download our newsletter.
2021 Annual Highlights
2021 was a busy year for Isanti SWCD. Click here to read all about our most recent Conservation programs and priorities. We would like to send out a special thank you to all our Federal, State, and Local partners who support our mission to preserve, protect and enhance water quality, soil, and other natural resources in Isanti County. We’re already planning great things for 2022 including targeted agricultural outreach, lakeshore restorations on Green Lake, and conservation planning in the Lower St. Croix Watershed.
KBEK Radio Interview
One of our conservation technicians got to speak with KBEK about their work. Todd Kulaf discussed the Isanti SWCD and his conservation project at Spectacle Lake. Thank you to KBEK for talking to us! If you missed it you can listen to it here.
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View a map of all completed SWCD projects. Click on individual projects to read more about them.We have made a lot of progress towards our goal of getting Green Lake off the impaired waterbodies list! 2021 was the first of a 16-year grant program to improve the health of Green Lake. We have made a short storyboard that will take you through everything we have done on Green Lake.
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Oak wilt, caused by the non-native fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum, is responsible for killing large numbers of oak trees annually in Minnesota. Oak Wilt is most severe in red oak group species such as Northern Red Oak and Northern Pin Oak. The Isanti County Parks Department has put together this brochure as a guide for managing Oak wilt: Oak Wilt in Isanti County To learn more and see good photos of diseased trees, you can also visit the U of M Residents can call the SWCD and the Isanti County Parks Department for names of contractors who can help with trees and root trenching on your property.The Isanti SWCD rents a seed drill suitable for planting native grasses and wildflowers. Cost is $12/acre. Rental must be within 20 miles of the City of Isanti. Rental has a $150 minimum fee within Isanti County. Rental minimum outside of Isanti county is $250. A $161.81 damage deposit is required at the time of rental. For safety reasons, we ask that you don't drive over 20 mph while towing the seeder. Call Matthew Remer at 763-689-3271 to schedule.
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The Isanti SWCD can help you with conservation efforts on your property with guidance and financial assistance.We are here for your questions and to help.Enhance your property with trees that are especially suited to your property. Container, bare root and seedlings are all available through the Isanti SWCD. The Isanti SWCD tree sale is now open for all your landscaping and conservation needs.
